Reports are circulating that TV maker Panasonic has halted the development of plasma TVs and is considering exiting the market altogether. Panasonic wouldn't be the first major TV manufacturer to exit the sagging plasma TV market, as Vizio threw in the towel on the segment back in 2009.

The move is part of Panasonic's plan to turn around its ailing TV business. For its part, a Panasonic representative was more nebulous about the company’s intentions, stating, "We are considering a number of options regarding our TV business. But nothing has been decided yet.”

Panasonic announced in November of 2012 that it has plans to shed 10,000 workers by the end of March 2013. And last summer, Panasonic announced that it was teaming up with Sony to share costs and to collaborate on the production of next-generation OLED panels for TVs and other large displays. Many see OLED as the next big sreen technology in the TV industry.

quote: Hard to justify a panel at all at that size, mine as well get a projector if you want 70"+.

Projectors are as much about the screen as the projector itself. I can get a decent 70" LCD for less than a projector plus screen. And if you listen to the experts, lots of people can use a 70 inch screen in their homes without it being too big. My family room is large enough for a 70 but honestly wouldn't get more than a 60 (current is 55).

Not saying I haven't wished for a 70" plasma (those 70/80" Sharp Aquos are massive but with mediocre PQ), but with that kind of money, I think I'd want to open things up a bit. With a projector and a screen, you can have just about any size you want. Unfortunately, with a projector, you truly are limited to very dark viewing environments if you want the best PQ.

Realistically, I'm trying to convince a certain someone of the need for a 65" ZT60, but I'll probably end up with a 60" VT60.